Kansas City Southern Share News

US STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are AT&T Inc. (T), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and Netflix Inc. (NFLX). AT&T swung to a fourth-quarter loss on several large charges, though the telecommunications giant's revenue beat expectations due to a jump in postpaid subscriber contracts. Shares declined 2.2% to $29.55 in recent premarket trading. Caterpillar's fourth-quarter earnings surged 60% as the heavy-machinery maker pointed to higher sales volume and an increase in new equipment sales. Shares were recently up 2.8% at $112.13 premarket as the results beat expectations and the company offered upbeat targets for its new fiscal year. Netflix's fourth-quarter earnings fell 14% on the online video and DVD-rental company's costly expansion into new geographies, but subscriber rates were solid on the whole and the company promised to lay off further expansion. Shares gained 19% to $113.10 in recent premarket trading. SanDisk Corp.'s (SNDK) fourth-quarter profit fell 42% from a year-ago result buoyed by a large tax-provision benefit, while core earnings registered a slight improvement. Shares still dropped 8.3% to $48.00 in recent premarket trading as the flash-memory maker provided soft guidance. 3M Co.'s (MMM) fourth-quarter earnings rose a better-than-expected 2.8% as the consumer and industrial products maker saw strong growth in its industrial and transportation segment, but its display and graphics unit continued to post weaker sales. Shares were up 1% to $87.36 premarket. United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) narrowed its fourth-quarter loss on stronger revenue and lighter integration costs to combine its two airlines. Shares gained 3.4% to $21.10 in recent premarket trading. E*Trade Financial Corp. (ETFC) posted an unexpected fourth-quarter loss as the company boosted a portion of its loan loss allowance by $67 million and recorded write-downs of $15 million related to certain loans in the process of foreclosure. Shares of E*Trade fell 11% to $8.36 in recent premarket trading as results missed analysts' estimates. Further, Goldman Sachs cut its stock-investment rating on E*Trade to neutral from buy. Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (MLNX, MLNX.TV) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the data-storage company reported record revenue. Shares climbed 15% to $35.76 in premarket trading. Eaton Corp. (ETN) fourth-quarter earnings rose 29%, though sales grew slower-than-expected, as the diversified industrial manufacturer also raised it quarterly dividend by 12%. The company forecast current-quarter earnings that were below consensus. Shares fell 5.1% to %47.00 premarket. Illumina Inc. (ILMN) adopted a shareholder rights plan with a 15% trigger as the U.S. life sciences company tries to ward off a hostile takeover attempt from Swiss drug giant Roche Holding Ltd. (RHHBY, ROG.VX). Roche's offer, made Tuesday, values Illumina at $5.7 billion. Roche is offering $44.50 a share in cash for the company. Shares fell 2.1% to $54.02 in recent premarket trading. Teradyne Inc.'s (TER) fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled on a large tax-provision benefit as the maker of chip-testing equipment, but the company's swung to a loss from continuing operations before taxes. Shares were up 11% at $17.95 premarket on the company's better-than-expected outlook. Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (RJET) raised its fourth-quarter guidance for a closely watched metric in the airline industry and issued an earnings estimate that topped analyst expectations, citing stronger results from its Frontier Airlines unit. Trius Therapeutics Inc. (TSRX) said it would offer an unspecified number of shares for sale and said the Securities and Exchange Commission is requesting more information about its third-quarter revenue. Shares in the antibacterial-drug company dropped 9.3% at $5.25 on the news in premarket trading. Watch List Alaska Air Group Inc.'s (ALK) fourth-quarter profit slipped 1.2% as a sizable jump in the carrier's fuel bill masked stronger revenue and improved traffic. Similar to its peers in the airline industry, the parent of Alaska Airlines has seen recent results hampered by steep costs to fuel its planes. AmerisourceBergen Corp.'s (ABC) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 1% as the drug wholesaler reported sales growth in pharmaceuticals and specialty businesses. The company made a number of acquisitions last year that bolster the services it can offer its customers. Most recently it acquired CVS Caremark Corp.'s (CVS) TheraCom LLC unit, which provides support services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Ball Corp.'s (BLL) fourth-quarter profit fell 16% as business consolidation continued to weigh on the bottom line, masking continued growth in its metal beverage packaging segments. The packaging company said the latest results were weakened by six fewer accounting days and softer 12-ounce beverage can volume in North America and Europe. Baxter International Inc.'s (BAX) fourth-quarter earnings rose 9.5% as the medical-products company booked sales growth in both its BioScience and medical products segments. The company forecast current-quarter earnings that missed analysts' expectations. It expects full-year earnings of $4.47 to $4.57 a share on revenue growth of 4% to 5%. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect $4.61 and 3% growth. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its ratings on Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) to within a step of investment grade, pointing to the company's improved credit profile. Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN) said Chief Executive David Alexander has resigned to pursue other opportunities and Chairman Ed Anderson, who previously served in the role, will take it back over. The value-price retailer has seen its results weaken in recent quarters on declining same-store sales and the related need to offer more clearance markdowns. Citi Trends has scaled back its store-opening plans and cut jobs in an effort to boost its bottom line. Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s (CL) fourth-quarter earnings fell 5.4% as the consumer-products company's sales grew slower than expected and higher costs hurt margins. Consol Energy Inc.'s (CNX) fourth-quarter earnings improved 87% as the energy producer said it continued to see higher coal prices and its gas division's growth surged. Covance Inc.'s (CVD) fourth-quarter earnings fell 26% on charges, but adjusted profit rose at the drug-research outsourcing company on higher sales and margin. The company also forecasted weak profit. -Edited by Maya Pope-Chappell and Ian Thomson; write to maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com and ian.thomson@dowjones.com